Recording device



Feb.' 4, 1964 R. L. GREGORY RECORDING DEVICE AttOEA/Fvs IDII Feb. 4, 1964 l R. L. GREGORY 3,120,420

RECORDING DEVICE Filed D66. 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Shbi 2 l Fmi l 3 M2 w ,wf

Aftrovevs United States Patent Oiiice 3,120,420 Patented Feb. 4, 1964 3,120,420 RECORDBWG DEVICE Richard Langton Gregory, Cambridge, England, assignor to National Research Development Corporation, London, England, a corporation of Great Britain Filed Dec. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 158,031 Claims priority, application Great Britain Dec. 12, 1960 4 Claims. (Cl. 346-59) The invention relates to a device (herein referred to as a printing chronograph) for recording the occurrence of events (eg. operations of control members, or pressure changes) and the times yat which they occur. The invention is an improvement in, or modification of, that forming the subject of Patent No. 2,944,867.

In Patent No. 2,944,867 I have disclosed a printing chronograph which comprises means for printing at any particular time, symbols representing that time, at least two independently operable printing members for printing symbols representing `different events, a corresponding number of solenoid operated means for conditioning for printing operation any of the event symbol printing members, solenoid operated means for taking simultaneously printing impressions from the time printing symbols and from a conditioned event symbol printing member, and means for producing on the occurrence of an event an electrical impulse of fixed short duration independent of the length of the event, means for making an impulse so produced eiective Ito cause opera-tion of the conditioning means of a symbol printing member representing that event and also to cause operation of the solenoid operated printing impression taking means, and means for deconditioning the conditioned symbol after the impression taking operation.

The printing chronograph which is described in Patent No. 2,944,867 has time symbol printing means fwhich comprise la counter lwith type faces, a motor for driving the counter at a constant average rate, an intermittent drive from the motor to the counter and means-for restricting operation of the impression taking means to the intervals between 4movements of the counter comprising a switch operable in synchronism with the counter and controlling the operation of the printing impression taking means, said switch comprising a rotatable intermittent contact member having a set of circumferentially spaced contact segments, a iixed brush in contact therewith and means vfor driving the contact 'member continuously in synchronism with the motor.

An object of the present invention is to provide in the chronograph described in Patent No. 2,944,867, improved means for restricting operation of the impression taking means to the intervals between movements of the counter. Some specic embodiments of the invention will now be described, -by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrams in which:

FIGURE l is a circuit diagram which is a copy, with some additions, of FIGURE l5 of Patent No. 2,944,867 and illustrates, for comparison, the chronograph described therein;

FIGURE 2 shows a modification of the circuit embodying the presen-t invention; and

FIGURES 3 and 4 show two modiiied forms of the construction sho-wn in FIGURE 2.

The chronograph forming the subject of Patent No. 2,944,867 has means for printing at any particular time, numerical symbols representing that time and comprising a counter 44, with type faces, a motor 45 for driving the counter at a constant average rate and an intermittent drive including gears `46, 47, and a Geneva motion from the motor to the counter. There are seven independently operable printing members 66 for printing symbols (a to j and an asterisk) representing different events and a corresponding number of solenoids (S1 to CS6 and MS1) for conditioning for printing operation any of the event symbol printing members 66. There is also a presser plate 24- operated by a ysolenoid 34 for taking simultaneously printing impressions from the type faces of the counter 44 and from a conditioned event symbol printing member 66. The chronograph also has means for producing, on the occurrence of an event, an electrical impulse of tixed short duration independent of the length of the event land comprising switches CB1 to CB6, 60 and SWZa, capacitors C1 to C7, resistors R1 to lR7 and relays RLA to RLF and RLH and means for making an impulse so produced, effective to cause operation of the conditioning solenoid (ie. one of CS1 to CS6 and MSI) of the symbol representing that event and to cause operation of the solenoid 34, which means comprise contacts (2 and 3) of relays RLA to RLF and RLH. In order to ole-condition the conditioned symbol rand to de-energize solenoid 34 after the impression taking operationthere are switches LS1 and ,MS2 with contacts 75 and 7S. There are also means for restricting operation of the impression ytaking solenoid 34 lto the intervals between movements of the counter which in the device as disclosed in Patent No. 2,944,867, comprise a rotary switch or commutator Sii operable in synchronism with the counter 44, and controlling the operation of solenoid 34, said switch comprising a set of rotatable intermittent contact members consisting of circumferentially spaced contact segments, a iixed brush (51 or 53) in contact therewith and means 46 for driving the contact members continuously in synchronism with the motor 45. Other features of the device and circuit, not necessary to the understanding of the present invention, `are described in Patent No. 2,944,867.

In operation of the device, the closing of any of the channel operating switches CB1 to CB6 eifects the operation of the particular relay RL associated with that switch to close all its contacts lRL1-4. In the present example it is assumed that CB1 is closed and lRLA is operated. The closing .of contacts RLA/Z completes a circuit `for the event solenoid CS1 which moves a symbol carrying bar y66 (in this example the symbol is a) to the printing position.

The closing of RLA/ 3 prepares a circuit for the operation of the printing solenoid 34 which, on energization, operates the printing presser bar 24 to print in cooperation with the counter and with the particular bar 66 which is in the printing position. The circuit prepared by the closing of RLA/3 can be completed only when and if the commutator 50 is in the appropriate position, i.e. a position which completes a. circuit for relay RLG having contacts RLG/1 which, in effect, are in series with contacts RLA/3.

Contacts RLA/.l are holding contacts for R-LA and ensure that RLA remains energized until the printing presser bar 24 opens contacts 75 of the micro switch ,MSL Contacts yRLG/5 are also holding contacts that ensure that solenoid 34 remains energized until the printing presser ybar 24 opens contacts 76 of the micro switch lMS2. 'I'he commutator 50 is driven in synchronism with the counter although, as stated above, the latter has an intermittent motion whereas the commutator rotates continuously.

The present example is concerned with an improved arrangement for restricting the operation of the impression taking solenoid 34 to the intervals between movements of the counter.

In the example the commutator is replaced by connections a-b (added to FIGURE 1 and also shown in FIG- URE. 2) containing contacts RM/l of a relay RM. The relay RM is in a circuit containing contacts RN/ 1 of a relay RN and a photoelectric cell PE. Relay RN is in a circuit receiving impulses resulting from the operation of CB1 and the holding circuit containing ELA/1. That is the lead X is connected to Y in FIGURE 1. Accordingly relay RM/ l can only operate when RN has been energised by an event signal.

The photo-electric cell PE is illuminated by a lamp L through a rotating mask, or shutter, M driven continuously and in synchronism with the counter. The shutter has an aperture MA which is arranged to pass light to illuminate the cell PE each time the counter is stationary. If the contacts RN/ 1 are closed, ybut not otherwise, the cell will then cause the relay RM to close contacts RM/ 1 and printing will take pl-ace. If the power output from the cell PE is insufficient to operate RM, the cell may be arranged to operate a smaller relay having contacts in a supply circuit for the relay RM.

I-n a modified form of the arrangement just described, the photo-cell, when illuminated, is arranged, through the relay RM, to open the contacts =RM/ll, the timing of the illumination of the cell being varied to suit.

It is also within the invention to employ more than one aperture or series of apertures in the mask. For instance in order to provide an equivalent arrangement to that described in Patent No. 2,944,867 in which the commutator has sections with different numbers of segments, there may be used a construction (shown in FIGURE 3) in which the mask disc M2 has, say, one aperture MA1 at one radius and several apertures MAZ (say five or ten) at a different radius and means for selecting for use the apertures at one or other radius as desired. The selection may, for example, be effected by the use of light filters F or polarizing devices. If light filters lare used the aperture or apertures at one radius may be covered with a red gelatine filter and the aperture or apertures at the other radius covered by a blue filter and the selection effected by interposing a red or blue Vfilter in the light beam from the lamp. The second mentioned red and blue filters may be carried on ya lever or sector wheel rotatable to change the filters in use.

`As already stated, the mask disc is driven continuously and in synchronism with the counter. rFhus in the case of the arrangement described in Patent No. 2,944,867 in which the counter is driven by an external Geneva motion, the disc may Ebe driven by the driving member olf the Geneva motion. If the counter Ihas its own, built in, intermittent drive device, the disc may be rotated by the counter drive.

In place of the photo-cell and lamp arrangement, it is possible, -as shown in FIGURE 4, to employ a rotating -permanent magnet M, driven, like the mask disc, in synchronism with the counter and a pick-off coil PC which gives a vsignal equivalent to that from the cell above described. yIt may be fo/und desirable to use a transistor amplifier TA in order to obtain sufficient power to operate the relay R-M.

I claim:

1. A printing chronograph comprising:

(a) means for printing at any particular time, symbols representing that time and comprising a counter with type faces, a motor for driving the counter at a constant average rate and an intermittent drive from the motor to the counter.

(b) at least two independently operable printing members for printing symbols representing different events,

(c) a corresponding number of solenoid operated means for conditioning -for printing operation any of the event` symbol printing members,

(d) solenoid operated means for taking simultaneously printing impressions from the counter type faces and from a conditioned event symbol printing member,

(e) means for producing on the occurrence of an event d an electrical impulse of fixed short duration independent of the length of the event,

(f) means for making an impulse so produced effective to cause operation of the conditioning means of a symbol printing member representing that event, and also to cause operation of the solenoid operated printed impression taking means,

(g) means for die-conditioning the conditioned symbol after the impression taking operation, and

(h) means for restricting operation of the impression taking means to the interval between movements of the counter comprising a relay with contacts in a circuit controlling the solenoid for operating the impression taking means and a relay operating coil, a photo-electric cell controlling, according to the degree of illumination of the cell, the energisation state of the coil and means for varying the illumination of the cell in synchronism with the periods in which the counter is stationary whereby the solenoid is only operable in such periods.

2. A printing chronograph as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for varying the illumination of the cell comprise a light source directed onto the cell, a rotatable interrupter in the path of the light to the cell and means for rotating the interrupter in synchronism with the counter, the interrupter having at least one light transmitting section alternating `with a section which is opaque to the light used.

3. A printing chronograph as claimed in claim 2 in which the interrupter has at least two sets of transmitting and opaque sections with different numbers of sections in the sets and in which adjustable means are provided for selecting any set for use to interrupt the light reaching the cell.

4. A printing chronograph comprising:

(a) means for printing at any particular time, symbols representing that time and comprising a counter with type faces, a motor for driving the counter at a constant average rate and an intermittent drive from the motor to the counter,

(b) at least two independently operable printing members for printing symbols representing different events,

(c) 1a corresponding number of solenoid operated means for conditioning for printing operation any of the event symbol printing members,

(d) solenoid operated means for taking simultaneously printing impressions from the counter type faces and from a conditioned event symbol printing member,

(e) means for producing on the occurrence of an event an electrical impulse of iixed short duration independent of the length of the event,

() means for making an impulse so produced effective to cause operation of the conditioning means of a symbol printing member representing that event, and also to icause operation of the solenoid yoperated printed impression taking means,

(g) means for de-conditioning the conditioned symbol after the impression ytaking ope-ration, and

(It) means for restricting operation of the impression taking means to the intervals between movements of the counter comprising a relay with contacts in a circuit controlling the solenoid for operating the impression taking means, and a relay operating coil, Ia pick up coil and a magnet, means for effecting relative movement of the pick-up coil through the field of the magnet in synchronism with the periods between the counter movement thereby to producefelectrioal impulses in the `coil and a circuit whereby said pulses are operative to control the energisation state of the relay coil.

No references cited. 

1. A PRINTING CHRONOGRAPH COMPRISING: (A) MEANS FOR PRINTING AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME, SYMBOLS REPRESENTING THAT TIME AND COMPRISING A COUNTER WITH TYPES FACES, A MOTOR FOR DRIVING THE COUNTER AT A CONSTANT AVERAGE RATE AND AN INTERMITTEN DRIVE FROM THE MOTOR TO THE COUNTER. (B) AT LEAST TWO INDEPENDENTLY OPERABLE PRINTING MEMBERS FOR PRINTING SYMBOLS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT EVENTS. (C) A CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF SOLENOID OPERATED MEANS FOR CONDITIONING FOR PRINTING OPERATION ANY OF THE EVENTS SYMBOL PRINTING MEMBERS. (D) SOLENOID OPERATED MEANS FOR TAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY PRINTING IMPRESSIONS FROM THE COUNTER TYPE FACES AND FROM A CONDITIONED EVENT SYMBOL PRINTING MEMBER, (E) MEANS FOR PRODUCING ON THE OCCURENCE OF AN EVENT AN ELECTRICAL IMPULSE OF FIXED SHORT DURATION INDEPENDENT OF THE LENGTH OF THE EVENT. (F) MEANS FOR MAKING AN IMPULSE SO PRODUCED EFFECTIVE TO CAUSE OPERATION OF THE CONDITIONING MEANS OF A SYMBOL PRINTING MEMBER REPRESENTING THAT EVENT, AND ALSO TO CAUSE OPERATION OF THE SOLENOID OPERATED PRINTED IMPRESSION TAKING MEANS. (G) MEANS FOR DE-CONDITIONING THE CONDITIONED SYMBOL AFTER THE IMPRESSION TAKING OPERATION, AND (H) MEANS FOR RESTRICTING OPERATION OF THE IMPRESSION TAKING MEANS TO THE INTERVAL BETWEEN MOVEMENTS OF THE COUNTER COMPRISING A RELAY WITH CONTACTS IN A CIRCUIT CONTROLLING THE SOLENOID FOR OPERATING THE IMPRESSION TAKING MEANS AND A RELAY OPERATING COIL, A PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL CONTROLLING, ACCORDING TO THE DEGREE OF ILLUMINATION OF THE CELL, THE ENERGISATION STATE OF THE COIL AND MEANS FOR VARYING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CELL IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE PERIOD IN WHICH THE COUNTER IN STATIONARY WHEREBY THE SOLENOID IS ONLY OPERABLE IN SUCH PERIODS. 